Illuminated cartoon music box/panel

ABSTRACT

A generally rectangular panel having at least one thick edge, a slot in said thick edge, a cassette with animated cartoon card being slidably received in said slot, said animated cartoon card being laterally, slidably received in said cassette, electrical means including a power source adapted to power said animated cartoon and operatively associated with said animated cartoon card.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Various devices have been proposed and are commonly used to provide visual effects for educational and entertainment purposes. Typically, these devices are fairly expensive and complex in construction. The present invention has as its primary objective to provide such effects at minimal cost. The present invention is particularly addressed to children and is intended to present images which are appealing and instructive to children.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

A generally rectangular panel having at least one thick edge, a slot in said thick edge, a cassette with animated cartoon card being slidably received in said slot, said animated cartoon card being laterally, slidably received in said cassette, electrical means including a power source adapted to power said animated cartoon and operatively associated with said animated cartoon card.

A novelty box comprising a housing box having generally flat top and bottom surfaces, generally flat smaller front and rear surfaces and generally flat side surfaces,

said box having a hinged panel, a slot in the opposed free edge of said hinged panel adapted to slidably receive a cassette with animated cartoon card, said animated cartoon card being laterally, slidably received in said cassette,

electrical means within said box including a power source adapted to power said animated cartoon card and operatively associated with said animated cartoon card.

A novelty illuminated cartoon music box comprising a housing box having generally flat top and bottom surfaces, generally flat smaller front and rear surfaces and generally flat side surfaces,

said box containing a sliding drawer adapted to be pulled out at the lower front surface of the box,

said box having a hinged panel at the rear edge of the top surface adapted to be folded down flush with the top surface, a slot in the opposed free edge of said hinged panel adapted to slidably receive a cassette with animated cartoon card, said animated cartoon card being laterally, slidably received in said cassette,

electrical means within said box including a power source adapted to power said animated cartoon card and operatively associated with said animated cartoon card,

said box including means for providing musical sounds.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the novelty box of this invention.

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the novelty box showing the front drawings partially open and the hinged top panel in the raised position.

FIG. 3 is a raised perspective generally rear view of the box with the hinged top panel in the raised position and showing the rear of the cassette separated from the slot in the top panel in which it is adapted to be received.

FIG. 4 is a cross-section view with the hinged top panel folded down flush with the top surface of the box and showing the interior arrangement of the electrical circuitry, batteries and the sliding drawer with stored contents.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2 showing how the cassette with animated cartoon card are slidably received in the free end of the hinged panel.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view showing how the animated cartoon card is laterally slidably received in the cassette.

FIGS. 7-9 show a second preferred embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view.

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the embodiment of FIG. 7 showing the relationship of the support panel, cassette and animated cartoon card.

FIG. 9 is a review view of the parts as shown in FIG. 8 and shows the electrical circuitry and contact within the animated cartoon card.

FIG. 10 is a front view of a third preferred embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 11 is a rear view of the embodiment of FIG. 10.

FIGS. 12 to 15 show the fourth preferred embodiment.

FIGS. 16 to 19 show a fifth preferred embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a section taken along the line 20-20 in FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Turning to the drawings in more detail in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 6, the box 10, has generally planar top 12, bottom 14, front 16, rear 18, and side 20 and 22 surfaces or panels.

The top panel 12 has at its rear edge a hinged panel 24 of generally uniform thickness adapted to be folded down flush with the top surface 12 of the box 10. At the free opposed end 26, the hinged panel 24 has a slot 28 which is adapted to slidably receive cassette 30 with animated cartoon card 32 as a unit therein. This is done by pulling on tab 33 which is affixed to cassette 30. The front panel 16 has a slide out drawer 34 to store animated cartoon cards 32 when not in use.

The animated cartoon card 32 is laterally, slidably received in cassette 30. As shown in FIG. 6, the cassette has a stop 35 at one side edge to assure that the animated cartoon card 32 is properly advanced and positioned in cassette 30.

The interior of box 10 above the drawer 34 contains an integrated circuit 36, audio speaker 38, power supply 40 such as a battery, and related electrical connections. The cassette 30 has an opening to enable electrical contact 41 to carry electrical signals from the interior of box 10 to the animated cartoon card 32.

Each animated cartoon card 32 carrying a distinctive pattern of electrical circuitry to provide attractive and unique lighted visual and audio effects when the electrical power is on. The lighted visual effect can be stationary or by proper lighting sequencing, the appearance of moving lighted objects or effects is obtained. The animated cartoon card 32 is laterally slidably received in cassette 30 so that any number of different lighted visual and audio effects can be obtained simply by changing animated cartoon cards.

The rear panel 18 has an opening 42 for receiving and changing the battery 40. The rear panel 18 also has a volume control 44 for the sound speakers 38. The rear panel 18 also has a main power switch 46 and a 12 volt plug 49 for supplying power form an external source in lieu of reliance on battery 40.

When the power switch 46 is “on”, the box will play only when the hinged panel 24 is raised, allowing the switch 48 to move upwardly into its on position and thereby electrically powering the animated cartoon cad 32.

The second embodiment of FIG. 7-9 has no box. The cassette 30 with animated cartoon card 32 is received in picture frame 50 having a viewing opening 52 and a slot 54 for receiving the cassette 30.

The power supply and circuiting necessary to power the animated cartoon card 32 is contained within enclosure 55 on the rear of picture frame 50. A support stand 56 may also be provided.

The star frame embodiment of FIGS. 10 and 11 is provided with outer star frame 58.

FIGS. 11 to 15 show a double frame arrangement. The one frame is essentially like the embodiment of FIGS. 7 to 9. The other frame 60, which is attached by hinges 62, is intended to hold a personal photograph or any other similar picture.

FIGS. 16 to 19 is similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 6 with the addition of a magnetic note pad 64 and marker 66 slidably and removably received in recess 68 for manual use in making notes on the note pad 64. There is also provided a conventional slide eraser 70 for erasing the note pad 64.

The section of FIG. 20 taken through the animated cartoon card 32 is the same in every embodiment of this invention. As shown, card 32 typically has five layers. The two outside layers 72 and 74 serve to protect the inner layers from scratching and are not otherwise functional. Layer 76 contains a printed or painted on picture, usually to provide background. Layer 78 contains fixed areas of electro phosphorescent images 80 which are powered by electrical circuit layer 82 which is in communication with power supply 40 or an external power source via contact 41. When power is applied to layer 82, the electro phosphorescent images are illuminated. By known means, it is possible to light up different electro phosphorescent areas of layer 78 in different sequences or patterns to create pleasing visual effects against the background picture in layer 76. The technology for laying down the electro phosphorescent areas and powering them is already known to those skilled in the art. Each of the animated cartoon cards can be provided with a different background and set of electro phosphorescent images with appropriate circuitry.

Music is preferably provided by an IC chip carried within box 10, for example. Many alternative means for providing music will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 

1. A generally rectangular panel or frame having at least one thick edge, a slot in said thick edge, a cassette with animated cartoon card being slidably received in said slot, said animated cartoon card being laterally, slidably received in said cassette, electrical means including a power source adapted to power said animated cartoon and operatively associated with said animated cartoon card.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the panel is of uniform thickness.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein said animated cartoon card includes phosphorescent areas on a passive pictorial background, said areas being illuminated by circuiting on said cord powered by said power source.
 4. The device of claim 3 wherein said phosphorescent areas are lighted in predetermined patterns to create visually pleasing effects.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein a stand or support is provided to maintain the frame or panel in a generally upright position.
 6. The device of claim 1 wherein said power source is carried in a closure affixed to the rear surface.
 7. The device of claim 1 wherein said cassette has a stop adapted to abut an end of said animated cartoon card and keep said card in position in the cassette.
 8. The device of claim 1 wherein said frame or panel is star shaped.
 9. The device of claim 1 wherein said frame or panel is hinged to a second panel adapted to receive and display photographic or painted images.
 10. A novelty box comprising a housing box having generally flat top and bottom surfaces, generally flat smaller front and rear surfaces and generally flat side surfaces, said box having a hinged panel, a slot in the opposed free edge of said hinged panel adapted to slidably receive a cassette with animated cartoon card, said animated cartoon card being laterally, slidably received in said cassette, electrical means within said box including a power source adapted to power said animated cartoon card and operatively associated with said animated cartoon card.
 11. The box of claim 9 wherein said box includes means for playing musical sounds.
 12. A novelty illuminated cartoon music box comprising a housing box having generally flat top and bottom surfaces, generally flat smaller front and rear surfaces and generally flat side surfaces, said box containing a sliding drawer adapted to be pulled out at the lower front surface of the box, said box having a hinged panel at the rear edge of the top surface adapted to be folded down flush with the top surface, a slot in the opposed free edge of said hinged panel adapted to slidably receive a cassette with animated cartoon card, said animated cartoon card being laterally, slidably received in said cassette, electrical means within said box including a power source adapted to power said animated cartoon card and operatively associated with said animated cartoon card, said box including means for providing musical sounds.
 13. The box of claim 9 wherein said flat top is provided with a magnetic note pad.
 14. The device of claim 1 wherein the animated cartoon card has an electrical circuit, electro phosphorescent area layer and a fixed background pictorial layer, the electrical layer being adapted to power said electro phosphorescent area layer to create varying patterns of lighted and unlighted areas against the background pictorial layer. 